Well not exactly that cheap(50)...but we did go for lunch..the prix fixte at 80 Euros!
I had been to Taillevent once before for a Birthday Dinner in 1994..3rd trip to Paris. It was my first dining experience at this level in Paris at the time...don't remember all the details but was duly impressed!
So many years and restaurants since.....now I find it best to do these sort of places at lunch..not just for the price..but I find it difficult to eat all the courses at night...unless I'd starve myself all day....and who wants to starve them self in Paris!!!! ;D
It seemed a good idea to start the first work week of 2010 (Mon Jan 4)with a Bang..even if we weren't working..well that is the point!
Reservation at one..doorman ..coat lady..warm welcomes and of course Bone Joured Madame et Monsieur all around until we were seated. Beige and brown understated decor...let the Meal shine! Servers...didn't see a single female other than the coat lady..in brown and black suits, whispering together. Kind of like in Church.
It is New Year's so we started with a bottle of their Champagne and a bottle of Evian ..which I don't think we actually ordered..offered the choice of fizzy or not....I spoke up
in Anglais and said just plain instead of un carafe d'eau..so...but what the Heck!
Then offered the lovely gougeres by a server holding out the little silver tray....about 8 on the plate,,took one as did S/O and then thankfully the server placed the dish on the table! I was thinking....humm should I take two
??
(Okay maybe I do need more of this fine dining!
)
The lunch menu changes weekly ...and this week seemed written for New Year's and for us!!! We both ordered the same things! I think there were 3 or 4 choices for the first two courses but it was a no-brainer for us!
The amuse-bouche was an artichoke creme type soup...wonderful I love artichokes and don't get them enough. First course oysters(3) poached in a foamy, wine sauce with slivered veggies. Ethereal!!
Oysters warm but still soft.... (I seem to recall a beef carpaccio, chicken soup, and perhaps a salade as the other choices)
Main course, whole fois gras "pot au feu" with winter vegetables...surrounded by little potatoes, carrots, mushrooms,onions, etc. Swoon worthy! Had a suggested 2001 bottle of Chambolle-Musigny with this course and the rest of the meal.. Wonderful suggestion. (Don't recall the other choices for main..they didn't stand a chance!)
We skipped the "with wines" option but it is only 15 Euros more so an attractive offer. Didn't see the "pours" a table of 2 thirty something New Yorker women were having it...well we heard everything they were having and more."my doorman", "my housekeeper". "my boss says we should have", "my parents leave a case of San Pellegrino in my lobby"...btw the only other table in the place we could hear..tables are well spaced and furnishings acoustically thought out(hey I was with an architect/acoustician!)..so I kind of avoided looking in that direction.
The cheese course was a softened bleu cheese kind of in a quenelle shape to match the stuffed date also on the plate. Sublime.
Dessert was a choice of a fruity thing..I think with apples, but not a tart, cake, clafouti, so went with the slice of Opera cake. I tend to avoid desserts you can pick up at a patisserie at a fraction of the price but it seemed appropriate here. Very thin slice served unadorned but also with a thin wedge of Galette de Roi in honor of the upcoming 6th which the server seemed pleased we knew about! And in my slim little wedge I got a charm......a green little Eiffel tower! (currently sitting on a shelf next to the basket of eggs charm I got the year before last in a wedge from Brioche D'or!)
Cafe and a little plate for each of us with 5 goodies...a macaron, lemon tart, square cookie, and choc. truffle..oh and a marshmallow which we both left..don't get that trend....the only way I like marshmallows is charred on the outside, gooey on the inside over a barbecue fire!
A grey/white haired gentleman with glasses..the "Host" walked through the dining room greeting folks. He came to us after the NYers who for some reason were going on about 9/11...I doubt he brought it up ..."hey you get off of my cloud!" We are here for an escapist few hours!!
So when he came to us I said "I hear you like NY?" He smiled , and said he goes every year to see friends and eat, and every other year to run. So a discussion of the NYC Marathon ensued...hard to imagine him out of his perfect suit and in running togs! Doesn't wear the "French team T-shirt" but a red and black shirt with the French flag on the sleeve. Also discussed NYC dining briefly. He loves the variety.
One other comment I did hear from the room behind us..not the customer but the server. The guest must have said the Taboo word in such a setting....calories!
..and the server said "When it is this cold you need a lot of calories!" I like his way of thinking!
Used the Ladies on the way out..escorted there of course when I asked...didn't want to move in like I do at some ..... ::)though perfectly fine!
When putting on coats , Host came out and said , "So 1st Ave and 78th?" He'll be running this fall..I had told him that is where I cheer! He also told me to fasten my coat as we were walking out...but it is a wrap coat..no buttons or belt! Big scarf/wrap and S/O!
Less opulent then some other places at this level...but was able to enjoy all the smaller portions/servings, and didn't leave feeling overstuffed. I won't wait as many years to go back! Esp. if I hand Monsieur some water on 1st Avenue!
in Anglais and said just plain instead of un carafe d'eau..so...but what the Heck!
?? 
;D
Let the riot begin! LOL - 
hahahha